Newman/Haas team hints at move to IRL

Everybody points to Newman-Haas’ suspension as the key to its success. But for the past two years, a rule has allowed competitors to buy the system, called Dynamic Suspensions and developed by Carl Haas Auto.

“A lot of people made inquiries, but not bought them that I know of," Newman-Haas General Manager Brian Lisles says. “It’s a substantial investment to change over, and then to get intellectual understanding." Ah, the brains to go with the brawn …

Newman-Haas rules the roost, but Lisles prefers more competition. “It’s up to the other guys to beat us down, and for us to not make mistakes," he says. “We would prefer to be a big fish in a big pond." He even intimates that Newman-Haas might look to the Indy Racing League, but “it’s extremely likely" the team will have an entry in Champ Car in 2007, despite the fact that “we’re not profitable."

Speaking of assets, Newman-Haas has Bourdais secured under contract for 2007, Lisles says, unless the driver gets hired by a competitive team in Formula One. “I’d be very surprised if he wasn’t here," the general manager says.

Frustration bubbling

Bourdais sounded off on the Champ Car-IRL split. “I get a lot of crap for being negative, but they need to fix this," he says. “I’m sick of hearing that ‘everything is going to be fine.’ It won’t be fine.

“People are sick of losing money," he adds, alluding to even Newman/Haas’ lack of profitability. “The truth is, it’s a live or die situation for teams."

Lisles voices the opinion of many by saying the split isn’t about contracts, scheduling, sponsors and chassis and engine deals, et al., but more about Champ Car co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven and IRL’s Tony George and others being too power hungry. “It’s less of a business problem than a personality problem," Bourdais says. “Everything is negotiable … and can be resolved by senior officers." Portland Tribune